Chile's Cristian Garin reacts after being knocked over by Belgian opponent Zizou Bergs. (Reuters: Piroschka Van De Wouw)
In short:
Belgium's Zizou Bergs accidentally collided with Chile's Cristian Garin during a change of ends.
Garin needed medical attention and was handed a game penalty for refusing to continue the match.
What's next?
Belgium will face Australia in the second qualifying round in September.
Belgium will be Australia's next opponents in the Davis Cup, but only after advancing to the second qualifying round in bizarre circumstances.
The Belgians' home tie in Hasselt came to an unfortunate conclusion when Zizou Bergs accidentally knocked over and injured Chile's Cristian Garin.
Bergs was celebrating a key service break to go 6-5 ahead in the deciding set of their singles rubber.
He sprinted wildly towards the Belgian bench at the changeover but collided with Garin.
His shoulder made contact with Garin and caught the Chilean in the eye as they both passed through the narrow space between the net and the umpire's chair at the same time.
Bergs attempted to apologise to Garin after their on-court collision. (Reuters: Piroschka Van De Wouw)
Bergs looked shocked and immediately apologised, but the dazed Garin needed medical treatment to his swollen eye and refused to continue.
The Chilean camp called for Bergs to be defaulted.
Although Bergs was given a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct, it was Garin who was penalised with three consecutive time violations for not restarting the match.
This led to a game penalty and Chile losing the set and the match 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, handing Belgium a 3-1 tie victory.
The Chilean team were left furious, railing at their opponents' bench as tensions heightened.
Belgium will travel to Australia in September where Lleyton Hewitt's team — who had beaten Sweden 3-1 in Stockholm over the weekend — will play their first home tie for three years.
AAP
